Let’s just get this out of the way right now: There won’t be very many deep cuts on this list. Styx is one of those rare situations where radio programmers have gotten it right. The reason that you hear the same Styx songs over and over is because they are awesome.
Dennis DeYoung did a great job of beating the coolness out of the band, but if you can overcome your Babe-related PTSD there are some choice cuts in the Styx catalog. Here we go:
“Suite Madame Blue” kicks enough ass in the last two minutes to overcome the creepy jingoism.
“Blue Collar Man.” I’m going to give you a bonus “that’s what she said” moment: I love a good organ, and “Blue Collar Man” opens with a big, fat, greasy one. You’re welcome.
“Midnight Ride” is your basic Seventies rocker, but a great album cut. You’ll even get some cowbell.
“Queen Of Spades” is notable for its tempo change, as if Tommy Shaw had enough Broadway for one day and bumped Dennis out of the way.
“Lady” is simply perfect. Stop with your cool posing and your shoe gazing and give into the awesomeness. Can’t type. Playing air guitar.
“Come Sail Away” answers age-old metaphysical questions that absolutely nobody ever asked: What if angels were really aliens? What if I played a harpsichord riff on a piano? What if I rhymed “on board” with “aboard”? What if we missed out on the pot of gold? The answer is simple: carry on.
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Related “Why It Matters” post: https://jamesostafford.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/65-wherein-i-am-completely-wrong/
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